Table 2.

Physicians’ view on and experiences of ASD and an ASD diagnosis.

Themes	Subthemes
Physicians’ views on ASD are multifaceted but fits in their personal styles	View is implicit and multiple For one physician Between physicians No systematic difference between different specialisms
	View fits within personal clinical style
	View is “workable” View does not disturb clinical work ASD is a neurological reality ASD is heterogeneous, but characteristic (IQ + “real/nuclear” autism)
	Difficult integrations Clinic vs. training and research literature Medical training vs. psychotherapy training External demands vs. quality of care
The ASD diagnosis is a descriptive part of a clinical trajectory	“Process-diagnostics,” descriptive “profile” ASD difficult to define/diagnose, facts unclear Diagnosis contextual and multidisciplinary
	Parents important to diagnosis/phenotype/prognosis, potential communication through child’s behaviors
ASD treatment is a mix of “standard” approaches and a personalized search	Adherence to perceived “standard” approach
	“Standard” approach also useful for other children
	Supplemented with personalized search
	Parents’ experience and child’s communication